Dangerous Contexts: An Analysis of Leadership Perception in Special Police Operations

Objective: this article analyzes the practice of police leadership within dangerous contexts, defined as environments where leaders and their team members confront highly dynamic and unpredictable situations, often resulting in serious physical and psychological risks, including potential injury or death. Theoretical approach: the research focuses on 10 (former) commanders of the Special Police Operations Battalions (BOPE) across various Brazilian states. BOPE is renowned for its specialization in addressing serious crimes within public security. Methods: the research methodology follows a qualitative approach, with data collection conducted through semi-structured interviews applied to a sample of experts. Thematic analysis is employed to structure and interpret the qualitative data, enabling the identification of patterns and themes related to leadership. Results: the findings highlight trust as the cornerstone of the leader–follower relationship within dangerous contexts. This trust is built through daily interactions, shared experiences, the leader’s physical presence, and demonstrations of competence. Leaders are responsible for decision-making and fostering teamwork, with a strong sense of duty and fraternity motivating officers to go above and beyond their professional duties. The hierarchy and discipline inherent to the state police facilitate effective leadership in dangerous contexts. However, in the Brazilian scenario, the lack of adequate equipment has been identified as the main difficulty, hindering the ability of leaders to effectively manage and respond to high-risk situations. Conclusions: this study contributes to the literature on leadership in Brazil, particularly regarding leadership within police organizations operating in dangerous environments — an area that remains largely unexplored in Brazilian academia.